Greens pledge to ‘end homelessness’
Josh Butler
The Greens have launched a plan they say would “end homelessness” in Australia, outlining a call for billions in extra funding for accommodation and supported tenancies.
At a launch in Brisbane today, the Greens housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, will say the policy offers “every single one of the 37,800 people experiencing chronic homelessness across Australia access to a permanent home and wraparound support services, with no strings attached”. He says the Greens would push for such changes if they held a position of power in a potential minority parliament after the election.
The Greens want the federal government to fund 50,000 ongoing supportive tenancies over the next four years, as well as double housing and homelessness funding to state governments. People experiencing homelessness would be given secure housing, as well as wraparound services to manage personal, mental health or substance issues.
The minor party says current schemes leave homeless people in motels or boarding houses with little support. Their alternative plan would see an extra $5.2bn over four years to provide the 50,000 tenancies and build 40 new accommodation buildings (like youth foyers) nationwide, which would include housing and supports.
Doubling support to state governments for their homelessness programs would cost another $7.5bn over four years. The Greens say their policy would be paid for through their plans to increase taxes on big corporations and banks. Chandler-Mather said:
It might sound radical to some politicians, but the solution to homelessness is giving people homes and then providing the support they need to get back on their feet. In a minority parliament the Greens will keep [Peter] Dutton out and push Labor to fund real action on the homelessness and housing crisis.
Key events
Sharma says Coalition will not take Dutton’s referendum idea to the election
Dave Sharma was also asked about Peter Dutton’s idea for a referendum to give ministers the power to deport dual citizens who have committed serious crimes. Would he support this?
The senator said “that’s not Coalition policy”.
And I wouldn’t – I’m not advocating for that at the moment. I think this came up from the news report that was in the Fairfax [Nine] media two days ago. I think Peter Dutton and the leadership team have been clear – this is not a policy we’re [advancing]. We’re not ruling it out indefinitely but [it’s] not something we’ll take to the election.
Is it something you discussed in the party room? Sharma said he wouldn’t reveal what is discussed in the party room, but reiterated that it’s “not something we’re planning to take to the election and not an idea we’re seeking to advance in the context of this election campaign”.
Here is what Dutton said of the idea, at his most recent press conference yesterday afternoon:
I want a mandate from the Australian people to be able to implement the laws which are necessary to keep us safe. The prime minister dismisses it as a thought bubble.
And here is the full timeline, as written by Josh Butler, of the Coalition’s rhetoric around this “thought bubble”, as the prime minister has labelled it:
‘Israeli government does not have a lot of palatable options’ – Sharma
The Liberal senator and former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma was up on ABC News Breakfast earlier to discuss the latest strikes carried out by Israel on Gaza.
The massive Israeli airstrikes shattered the two-month ceasefire on Tuesday, killing more than 400. A further 20 Palestinians died in attacks on Wednesday, local health officials said. You can read the latest below:
Sharma was asked whether there is growing discontent among hostage families in Israel, and also in Australia with those with connections to Israel, that the government doesn’t appear to want to stick to a ceasefire to ensure the hostages come home?
The senator said he understood and “entirely empathise[d]” with their concerns, continuing:
If any of us were in their position, we would be single-mindedly focused on the return of our loved ones. I can understand that. This is a politically contentious issue in Israel, there’s no walking away from that, but I don’t think the government has a lot of good choices.
Continuing the ceasefire was not going to lead to the release of further hostages, at least according to the mediators involved in the talks. Hamas had basically said they weren’t planning on returning any more. As I said, in that situation, the Israeli government does not have a lot of palatable options.
‘No way’ Australia would negotiate over the PBS – health minister
Mark Butler also spoke on the Today show this morning, where he made it clear “we’re not going to negotiate over the PBS”.
He ruled out reciprocal tariffs, saying this would make prices more expensive for Australians, and said:
Our the clear message we want to send to everyone, whether it’s to the Americans or to patients here in Australia who might be worried about these reports, is that … we’re not going to negotiate over the PBS. This is one of the cornerstones of, I think, one of the best healthcare systems in the world. We’re not interested in an American-style user pays healthcare system in the Labor party. We’re determined to protect Medicare and to protect the PBS …
There is no way we will negotiate around the elements of the PBS that has served Australians so well over the last 75 years.
Australia won’t be influenced by ‘lobbying by big pharma’ in US – Butler
Mark Butler was asked about reports that US pharmaceutical companies have been urging Donald Trump to consider Australia’s PBS as an “unfair trade practice” and impose “reciprocal” tariffs.
A new round of US tariffs will take place in April – how would the Australian government respond?
Butler says “we’ll certainly respond by defending the PBS”, and continues:
I call it one of the shining jewels of one of the world’s best healthcare systems. We do not want to go down the path of an American-style user pays system … We’re not going to be influenced by lobbying by big pharma over in the US, about what price people pay for their medicines here in Australia …
I’m not sure we’ve heard anything from the [Trump] administration yet, but we are prepared to make it very clear there is no change.
Butler says Labor’s medicines pledge ‘really good health policy’
The health minister, Mark Butler, just spoke with ABC Radio National about Labor’s pledge to reduce the price of PBS-listed medicines to no more than $25 a script.
He was asked why the measure would begin from January next year, and not this July? Butler said indexation usually occurs in January, and continued:
We need software arrangements and the like. And the important thing is, we’re delivering cheaper medicines this year. We’ve frozen the price of medicines for this year … Cheaper medicines is not just good for the hip pocket of household budgets, it’s really good health policy, because cheaper scripts are far more likely to be filled.
The cost is $689m a year – how will that be paid? Butler pointed to next week’s budget and said the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, would outline the specifics.
Greens continue call for dental to be included under Medicare
As Josh Butler reported this morning, a re-elected Labor government would reduce the price of PBS-listed medicines to no more than $25 a script in a major election pledge to be included in next week’s budget.
Greens senator Nick McKim was on the Today show earlier this morning, and welcomed the move – calling for further measures to include dental under Medicare:
People are getting smashed everywhere they go with [the] cost of living, and health is a big, big part of that. The Greens have long been calling for relief to be given for people in health … We would really like to see dental into Medicare. That would have been a great thing for the government to do, and they still could do it in the budget next week. But as far as this announcement goes, it will provide much needed relief to millions of Australians.
He was also asked about a report in the Financial Review saying that treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is set to spend $100bn off budget, and responded:
If people are worried about the expenditure, the way to fix that and balance the budget is to make big corporations and ultra-wealthy billionaires pay their fair share of tax. And then we could do a lot of the good things, like putting dental into Medicare.
Good morning
Emily Wind
And happy Thursday – Emily Wind here, signing on for blogging duties. I’ll be taking you through all of our rolling coverage during most of the day.
You can get in touch with any tips, feedback or questions via email: [email protected]. Let’s go.
Australians’ belief in the fair go is waning, says researcher
As mentioned in the intro, we have a long essay today about changing social trends in Australia by the researcher and regular Guardian contributor Rebecca Huntley.
She draws attention to how the idea of fairness and equality appears less important to Australians now than when she first started studying attitudes two decades ago, with concerns about feeling safe and personal freedom ranked more highly.
And the three takeaways are that the belief in the fair go is waning, that someone’s engagement with society is becoming the best lens through which to analyse attitudes, and how gender and generational issues are shaping society. She writes:
I am seeing a shift that has caused me to rethink the way I view Australia; a change in attitude that has profound and far-reaching implications for how Australians think about what politicians are offering.
You can read the full, fascinating article here:
Greens pledge to ‘end homelessness’
Josh Butler
The Greens have launched a plan they say would “end homelessness” in Australia, outlining a call for billions in extra funding for accommodation and supported tenancies.
At a launch in Brisbane today, the Greens housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, will say the policy offers “every single one of the 37,800 people experiencing chronic homelessness across Australia access to a permanent home and wraparound support services, with no strings attached”. He says the Greens would push for such changes if they held a position of power in a potential minority parliament after the election.
The Greens want the federal government to fund 50,000 ongoing supportive tenancies over the next four years, as well as double housing and homelessness funding to state governments. People experiencing homelessness would be given secure housing, as well as wraparound services to manage personal, mental health or substance issues.
The minor party says current schemes leave homeless people in motels or boarding houses with little support. Their alternative plan would see an extra $5.2bn over four years to provide the 50,000 tenancies and build 40 new accommodation buildings (like youth foyers) nationwide, which would include housing and supports.
Doubling support to state governments for their homelessness programs would cost another $7.5bn over four years. The Greens say their policy would be paid for through their plans to increase taxes on big corporations and banks. Chandler-Mather said:
It might sound radical to some politicians, but the solution to homelessness is giving people homes and then providing the support they need to get back on their feet. In a minority parliament the Greens will keep [Peter] Dutton out and push Labor to fund real action on the homelessness and housing crisis.
Good Life festival is latest to skip 2025 due to costs
Good Life has become the latest music festival to announce that it will not be taking place this year.
The festival, which is aimed at teenagers and takes place across a number of cities, started in 2010 but said that after “careful consideration” it would be paused due to “rising operational and talent costs”.
In a statement, Good Life said:
After careful consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause Good Life in 2025 due to rising operational and talent costs. These challenges have made it unfeasible to deliver the world-class lineup and experience that Australian teens have come to expect.
Since its inception in 2010, Good Life has been more than just a music festival – it’s been a rite of passage for Australian teens. Our mission has always been to provide an affordable, drug- and alcohol-free event where young people can safely immerse themselves in live music and entertainment, fostering real connections in an increasingly digital world.
However, the organisers promised they would be back next year
To our fans, artists, partners, and the wider community – thank you for your unwavering support. This isn’t goodbye. We look forward to returning stronger in 2026.
The announcement follows a number of other high-profile festival cancellations. In January, Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass cancelled their 2025 editions for the second year running.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with some of the top overnight stories before Emily Wind takes the news baton.
In our top story this morning, the former foreign affairs minister Bob Carr tells us that Australia faces a “colossal surrender of sovereignty” if promised US nuclear-powered submarines do not arrive under Australian control. As a report by a group called Australians for War Powers Reform is released today, Carr argues that the US is “utterly not a reliable ally” to Australia.
There’s a lot of politics around this morning with another report saying a re-elected Labor government would reduce the price of PBS-listed medicines to no more than $25 a script in a major election pledge to be included in next week’s budget. At the same time, Peter Dutton faces internal pressure to match Labor’s budget giveaways as Coalition MPs hope to neutralise a potentially potent Labor attack during the campaign. And the Greens launch their housing policy in Brisbane today with a call for billions in extra funding for accommodation and supported tenancies. More coming up.
Dovetailing with this buildup of political stories today, we have a fascinating read by the researcher Rebecca Huntley about social trends and how Australians have lost hope in the concept of the “fair go” and place more value in security and personal freedom. She finds that driving this change is the unaffordability of housing and declining engagement with politics, and has some suggestions about how to fix the problem.
And the Good Life music festival has joined the growing list of festivals to cancel their 2025 editions, as costs escalate. More on that soon.
